I couldn’t be more thrilled to have had the opportunity to see the advanced screening of Disney’s The Nutcracker And The Four Realms. This timeless tale is one that I’m sure everyone will love! As a little girl, I took ballet lessons and was in a few classic Ballets. My favorite being The Nutcracker, in which I got to play a few roles including: Soldier, Mouse, Party Girl and Chinese. I have such fond memories of dancing in The Nutcracker and have been looking forward to this film hitting the big screen for what feels like decades. Take a look at the trailer; it showcases the beauty and wonder of this film.

You don’t have to be a huge ballet fan thought to see this film. Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a show I recommend everyone seeing in theaters. While there are a few scenes with dancing; this is a movie that tells a story. You will definitely want to watch this new take on a holiday classic. If seeing the trailer wasn’t enough to convince you, maybe this article will?!

REVIEW – NO SPOILERS

My sister and I sat on the edge of seats throughout the entire movie; we both have a love for the Nutcracker story. The music from the original Ballet sets the tone of the film. One thing that was symbolic for me was the opening scene when snow started falling. When I played a party girl, the snow falling through the Victorian window was a sign the show was about to start! I probably shouldn’t admit it but I was overcome with so much emotion I shed tears of joy.

Without giving away too much about the plot. This version of the film is almost like a sequel to the classic Nutcracker. There are still an evil Mouse King and of course everyone’s favorite characters such as Clara and the SugarPlum fairy. This tale has added a twist though that makes the story compelling. I would compare the story to Alice In Wonderland; where a brave and brilliant girl falls into a fantasy world. The main character Clara desires more than anything else to unlock a box that was gifted to her. She embarks on a journey to find the key. The journey takes her off to a mysterious world with four realms; land of snowflakes, land of flowers, the land of sweets and land of amusements. She quickly learns how much she is needed and takes action to become a hero and save the day.

One thing I have to point out, is the artistry of this film. I was blown away by the set, props, make up and most of all costumes. I think this movie displays the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen.

One thing my fellow lovers of dance will be happy about is that Disney did a lovely job keeping ballet in the film. Once Clara enters The Kingdom you are introduced to the story of how the Realms are discovered through a gorgeous dance performed by the lovely Misty Copeland. The dance was so beautiful, and it reminded me of being back on stage.

LEARN MORE

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Share your love for the film by using the hashtag #DisneysTheNutcracker

Length: 1 Hour 40 Minutes

Rating: PG

Playful Parent Age Recommendation: 4 and Up (Based on attention span)

HAVE FUN

Here are some print-offs to color for fun.

THE GIVEAWAY

One lucky fan will be randomly drawn to win four tickets to see The Nutcracker at the Brandywine Xscape Theater this holiday seasons. Entering is simple. You can enter by commenting on this article by sharing your favorite Nutcracker Character or on Facebook by:

COMMENT or GIF your favorite Nutcracker character.

LIKE the post.

SHARE not mandatory, help spread the word and invite a friend to join the fun.

Must be a Playful Parent fan to win.

Giveaway closes November 15, 2018 11:00 OM EST.

This giveaway is not Facebook affilated.

***The Playful Parent was not paid to write this review. All information is my own non-biased opinion.***

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The Playful Parent

The Playful Parent was created in 2016 as a blog to share the joys and craziness of parenting. The founder of The Playful Parent is a full time domestic energizer and has a Bachelors from Marymount University and a Masters in Clinical Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.

SUPER HERO TODDLER TIMEDate: March 21, 2019Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 AMLocation: SkyzoneDetails: Soar into Toddler Time at Sky Zone Waldorf on Thursday, March 21 from 10 am-12 noon for a super awesome special toddler time! Join us as we jump, take pictures with the super hero’s and create a cool craft! Available to walking age – 5 years old. Event PageCost: Price is $13 for first toddler, $10 per additional toddler, $7 per parent. Reusable Sky Socks are $2 per pair.

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Date: Every Tuesday & ThursdayTime: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PMLocation: Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Crain Highway, White Plains, MDDetails: Toddler Time is a great shared experience for child and parent. A time for your little ones to discover the joy of being active, bouncing under the supervision of their parents, and without interference from the big kids. Visit their website or Facebook Page to find out about special seasonal Toddler Time EventsEvent Type: Parent/childAge Group: Walking to 5 years oldRegistration: Walk-in welcome!Cost: $10 Toddler, $8 Additional Toddler, $7 ParentInformation: SKYZONE TODDLER TIME LINK

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Details: Open style sports and semi-organized games. Registration form with parental consent required each school year. Sign-in by youth required each day of participation. Dates and times subject to change. Contact the center for schedule changes.Ages: 8-17

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Details: This story time encourages emerging literacy skills through books, songs, fingerplays, and flannel board stories. It is designed for children of multiple ages and their parents. This is a 30 minute program that includes a simple craft.

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The Playful Parent was created by Kristy a mother of two energetic boys. She has a Bachelors degree with a interest in Secondary Education and Masters in Clinical Community Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. “I believe that children learn through play! I love to do fun things with my children and hope that sharing our adventures provides other families with inspiration and resources that lead to quality time together and a love for learning!” This non profit 501c3 organization was started so parents would have a family friendly place to come to, feel supported and leave with information that is useful. This site is kept advertisement and influence free in order to keep the site from clutter and bias opinion. Your support, feedback, likes and comments are essential; this site was designed to connect the community. The Playful Parent offers resources such as guides, calendars and ideas for making learning fun. In addition, TPP is present in the community and hosts a handful of events to support SOMD in raising healthy families.